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Patents: Camera tricks

28 May 1994

By BARRY FOX

The Rhythm Watch Company of Tokyo suggests a new twist to the idea of
a still picture camera which uses an electronic store instead of film: it
doubles as a display.

Described in UK patent application 2 269 292, the Rhythm camera looks
like a pocket TV set with a small LCD screen, but also has a lens and small
solid-state image sensor of the type now used in camcorders. A slot in the
side accepts the standard digital memory card now found in portable computers.
The user presses a shutter button to capture a picture in the memory card,
and the image is immediately displayed on screen.

If the picture is disappointing, the memory is wiped. If the picture
is good, it is left in the memory card. Each card stores up to eight images,
which can later be transferred to a cheaper storage medium, such as digital
audio tape. The card is then reused. But proud parents can carry the camera
and a couple of cards around – to show off pictures of baby.